IonActive Consulting would like to make the following specific comments about ICRP 2005. Having worked with many who practise ‘practical radiation protection’ at the workface, it is a pity that the familiar concept of ALARA / ALARP seems to be somewhat obscured in the new recommendations. We believe that much improvement has been achieved in radiation protection at the workface level, particularly the interface and understanding between the Radiation Protection Adviser who preaches ALARP / ALARA and those that actually use it. After attending a recent ICRP 2005 briefing session in the UK it was clear that much of the audience, many of whom were radiation protection practitioners, had trouble with the concepts of optimisation and constraints (as perhaps ‘replacement language’ to the general ALARA/ALARP concept). It will be a great pity if this unease in terminology is shared by those who have made ALARP / ALARA concept work so well at the plant face.